Demolition device

ABSTRACT

A demolition device comprising a wheeled frame means having a compacting wheel rotatably mounted on the frame means adjacent the forward end thereof. A telescoping boom means is pivotally connected at its rearward end to the frame means and extends forwardly over the compacting wheel means. A pair of hydraulic cylinders are pivotally secured to the boom means and the frame means for raising and lowering the forward end of the boom means. A grapple means is secured to the forward end of the boom means for grasping the object to be demolished. The forward end of the boom means is provided with a pad means for demolishing walls, etc. The compacting wheel means is removably filled with a fluid to increase the weight of the compacting wheel means. The periphery of the compacting wheel means is provided with a plurality of lugs.

United States Patent [191 Swanson, Jr.

[ Jan. 14, 1975 1 1 DEMOLITION DEVICE [21] Appl. No.: 360,309

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,671,118 5/1928 Mabee100/295 UX 2,528,329 10/1950 Bauer 254/124 3,081,564 3/1963 Prater3,412,659 11/1968 Harbke et al. 404/121 3,651,754 3/1972 100/D1G. 13,722,706 3/1973 Blonsky 212/44 OTHER PUBLICATIONS Washington PostArticle- Sept. 2, I972 pg. 1.

Refuse Removal Journal Dec. 1964 pg. 15.

Primary ExaminerBilly J. Wilhite Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Zarley, McKee,Thomte & Voorhees [57] ABSTRACT A demolition device comprising a wheeledframe means having a compacting wheel rotatably mounted on the framemeans adjacent the forward end thereof. A telescoping boom means ispivotally connected at its rearward end to the frame means and extendsforwardly over the compacting wheel means. A pair of hydraulic cylindersare pivotally secured to the boom means and the frame means for raisingand lowering the forward end of the boom means. A grapple means issecured to the forward end of the boom means for grasping the object tobe demolished. The forward end of the boom means is provided with a padmeans for demolishing walls, etc. The compacting wheel means isremovably filled with a fluid to increase the weight of the compactingwheel means. The periphery of the compacting wheel means is providedwith a plurality of lugs.

10 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures DEMOLITION DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION This invention relates to a demolition device and moreparticularly to a demolition device which may be used to crushautomobiles or the like. Heretfore, there has not been an efficientapparatus for crushing automobiles or the like. The present method ofcrushing automobiles is to place the automobile in a stationaryapparatus having movable wall members which crush and compact theautomobile.

Therefore, it is a principal object of the invention to provide aportable demolition device.

A further object of the invention is to provide a demolition device forcrushing automobiles, farm equipment, buildings, trees, etc.

A further object of the invention is to provide a demolition devicehaving a telescoping boom which per mits the positioning of the objectto be crushed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a demolition devicewhich does not exceed legal weight and width limitations fortransporting the same on highways.

A further object of the invention is to provide a demolition devicecomprising a large diameter compacting wheel means which is filled withfluid.

A further object of the invention is to provide a demolition devicewhich may be used to crush the vehicle and to remove the enginetherefrom.

A further object of the invention is to provide a demolition devicewhich has a grapple means rotatably mounted on the forward end of atelescoping boom means.

A further object of the invention is to provide a demolition devicewhich is economical of manufacture, durable in use and refined inappearance.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF TI IE DRAWINGS This invention consists inthe'co'fist'ruction, arrangements and combination of the various partsof the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained ashereinafter more fully set forth; specifically pointed out in theclaims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top view of the demolition device:

FIG. 2 is a side view of the device with portions thereof cut-away tomore fully illustrate the invention:

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but which illustrates the devicecrushing an automobile after it has removed the engine therefrom; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view seen on lines 4 4 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The demolition device of thisinvention is referred to generally by the reference numeral 10 andcomprises a frame means 12 having an engine 14 mounted on its rearwardend. The numeral 16 refers to an operators cab mounted on the framemeans. Steerable wheels 18 and 20 are provided on the rearward end ofthe frame means for steering the device.

The numeral 22 refers to a hollow compacting wheel which is rotatablymounted at the forward end of the frame means as seen in the drawings.The interior of the compacting wheel 22 is removably filled with a fluid24 to increase the weight of the wheel.

A telescoping boom 26 is pivotally connected at its rearward end to theframe means 12 at 28 and extends forwardly over the compacting wheel 22as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. Preferably, the boom 26 includes a boomelement 30 which may be telescoped outwardly from the boom element 32 soas to increase the effective length of the boom means as desired. Itshould be noted that the boom means does not have to be telescopic. Ahydraulic cylinder or the like would be provided in the interior of theboom element 32 to control the telescopic movement of the boom element30. Hydraulic cylinders 33 and 33' are provided to raise and lower theforward end of the boom 26.

Arm 35 is pivotally secured to boom element 32 and extends downwardlytherefrom. A rotatable shaft or bolt 34 is rotatably secured to arm 35and has a support means 36 secured thereto. A pair ofjaw members 38 and40 are pivotally connected to the support 36 at 42 and 44 respectively.Hydraulic cylinders 46 and 48 are connected to the support means and thejaw members as seen in FIG. 4 for moving the jaw members towards andaway from each other. For purposes of description, the jaw members andthe related structure will be referred to as comprising a grapple means50. A suitable means is provided for selectively rotating support means36 (about bolt 34) with respect to arm 35. The forward end of the boomelement 30 is provided with a pad means 52 which may be used to demolishbuildings, walls, etc. The periphery of the compacting wheel 22 isprovided with a plurality of lugs 54 provided thereon as will beexplained in more detail hereinafter. For purposes of description, thenumeral 56 will identify a vehicle while the numeral 58 will refer tothe engine of the vehicle. A hydraulic cylinder 59 is provided to permitthe selective positioning of the grapple means.

The normal method of operation is as follows. The operator of the devicewould drive the device to the junk pile or the like and the vehicle 56would be grasped by the grapple means 50 through the manipulation of thehydraulic cylinders 46 and 48 and the hydraulic cylinders 33 and 33'which control the operation of the boom means 26. The vehicle would becarried to the desired position and lowered into ground engagement. Thegrapple means 50 would then be operated so as to disengage from thevehicle. The operator would then drive the device forwardly so that thecompacting wheel 22 passes over the rearward end of the vehicle asillustrated in FIG. 3. The boom means and grapple means would then beoperated so as to physically tear the engine 58 from the vehicle. Thegas tank, seats, etc. can also be removed if so desired. The operatorwould then drive the compacting wheel 22 completely over the vehicle soas to crush the same. The distance between wheel 22 and the wheels 18and 20 is greater than the length of an automobile so that the wheels 18and 20 do not have to be driven onto the automobile. The lugs 54 on thecompacting wheel 22 aid in crushing the vehicle and provide thenecessary traction to the wheel.

The device would then be moved rearwardly from the automobile. After thevehicle has been crushed, the engine would be transported to the properlocation. The operator would then return to the vehicle 56 and wouldpick the same from the ground with the grapple means 50. The crushedvehicle would then be delivered to the loading area for delivery to arecycling plant or the like.

The liquid 24 in the wheel 22 may be removed therefrom when the deviceis to be transported over the highway so as not to exceed legaltransport weight. The telescoping boom also permits the boom to beshortened for transport purposes so as not to exceed legal transportlength. Preferably, the compacting wheel 22 has a diameter ofapproximately 8 feet.

The pad means 52 on the forward end of the boom means may be used todemolish buildings, walls, etc. The device can also be used to demolishtrees and crush the same if so desired. Thus it can be seen that aunique demolition device has been provided which is efficient inoperation and highly mobile and versatile. The invention thereforeaccomplishes at least all of its stated objectives.

I claim:

1. A demolition device comprising,

a wheeled frame means having rearward and forward ends,

a compacting wheel means rotatably mounted on said frame means adjacentthe forward end thereof,

power means on said frame means for driving said compacting wheel means,

means for steering said wheeled frame means,

a boom means having rearward and forward ends, the

rearward end of said boom means being operatively secured to said framemeans, said boom means extending forwardly from said frame means andhaving a first horizontal boom member, and a second verticallyextendable boom member extending between a forward end portion of saidframe and said first horizontal boom member for raising and lowering theforward end of said first boom member,

and a grapple means on said boom means forwardly of said compactingwheel means and said second boom member and rearwardly of said forwardend of said boom means, said first boom member having at least two boomsections longitudinally movable with respect to each other to permitmovement of said grapple means toward and away from said compactingwheel means.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said boom means is pivotally secured atits rearward end to said frame means, said boom means extendingforwardly over said compacting wheel means.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said second vertically extendable boommember is a hydraulic cylinder means.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said grapple means comprises a pair ofjaw members pivotally secured to said boom means, and hydraulic cylindermeans connected to said jaw members for pivotally moving said jawmembers towards and away from each other.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein said grapple means is movably securedto said boom means about a vertical axis to permit the selectivepositioning of said grapple means relative to the object to bedemolished.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein a demolition pad means is provided onthe forward end of said boom means.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein said compacting wheel means comprises ahollow cylinder having fluid removably received therein.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein said compacting wheel means has aplurality of peripherally mounted lugs thereon.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein said boom means comprises at least twotelescopic boom members.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein said grapple means comprises a firstarm pivotally secured at its upper end to said boom means and extendingdownwardly therefrom, a support means pivotally secured about asubstantially vertical axis to the lower end of said first arm, a pairof jaw members pivotally secured to said support means, first and secondhydraulic cylinders for pivotally moving said jaw members towards andaway from each other, and a third hydraulic cylinder pivotally securedto and extending between said boom means and said first arm forselectively positioning said grapple means with respect to said boommeans.

1. A demolition device comprising, a wheeled frame means having rearwardand forward ends, a compacting wheel means rotatably mounted on saidframe means adjacent the forward end thereof, power means on said framemeans for driving said compacting wheel means, means for steering saidwheeled frame means, a boom means having rearward and forward ends, therearward end of said boom means being operatively secured to said framemeans, said boom means extending forwardly from said frame means andhaving a first horizontal boom member, and a second verticallyextendable boom member extending between a forward end portion of saidframe and said first horizontal boom member for raising and lowering theforward end of said first boom member, and a grapple means on said boommeans forwardly of said compacting wheel means and said second boommember and rearwardly of said forward end of said boom means, said firstboom member having at least two boom sections longitudinally movablewith respect to each other to permit movement of said grapple meanstoward and away from said compacting wheel means.
 2. The device of claim1 wherein said boom means is pivotally secured at its rearward end tosaid frame means, said boom means extending forwardly over saidcompacting wheel means.
 3. The device of claim 2 wherein said secondvertically extendable boom member is a hydraulic cylinder means.
 4. Thedevice of claim 1 wherein said grapple means comprises a pair of jawmembers pivotally secured to said boom means, and hydraulic cylindermeans connected to said jaw members for pivotally moving said jawmembers towards and away from each other.
 5. The device of claim 4wherein said grapple means is movably secured to said boom means about avertical axis to permit the selective positioning of said grapple meansrelative to the object to be demolished.
 6. The device of claim 1wherein a demolition pad means is provided on the forward end of saidboom means.
 7. The device of claim 1 wherein said compacting wheel meanscomprises a hollow cylinder having fluid removably received therein. 8.The device of claim 1 wherein said compacting wheel means has aplurality of peripherally mounted lugs thereon.
 9. The device of claim 1wherein said boom means comprises at least two telescopic boom members.10. The device of claim 1 wherein said grapple means comprises a firstarm pivotally secured at its upper end to said boom means and extendingdownwardly therefrom, a support means pivotally secured about asubstantially vertical axis to the lower end of said first arm, a pairof jaw members pivotally secured to said support means, first and secondhydraulic cylinders for pivotally moving said jaw members towards andaway from each other, and a third hydraulic cylinder pivotally securedto and extending between said boom means and said first arm forselectively positioning said grapple means with respect to said boommeans.